A Pony Express Christmas. Rhonda Gibson

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СКАЧАТЬ nodded at Leah before lifting the sweet cider to his lips and drinking deeply from the cup. He held her deep crystal-blue eyes over the rim. She had to be one of the prettiest women he’d seen in a long time. What was she doing out here in the middle of nowhere?

      Her voice shook as she said, “It’s nice to meet you all. My name is Leah Hollister.”

      “What brings you to our neck of the woods?” Mrs. Frontz asked.

      Leah raised her head and looked Mrs. Frontz in the eyes. “Thomas Harris and I are to be married.”

      Mrs. Frontz poured more coffee from the metal pot into Will’s cup. “Is he coming for you dear? With the weather it might take a while, but you’re welcome to stay here and wait for him, if you’d like.”

      Jake watched Leah’s lids slip down over her eyes as she shifted in her seat.

      “I’ve some unfinished business before I let him know I’ve arrived.” Her gaze rose to Jake’s face, as if her business had something to do with him, before lowering once more. “But I’m sure Mr. Harris will be happy to pay for my room and board when he arrives.”

      The little girl slurped her drink and giggled. She was a cute thing but didn’t look much like her mother. Jake wondered how long Mrs. Hollister had been a widow.

      His first impression of her had been that she had good looks but no brains. Who else but a clueless city girl would stop in the middle of the yard like that and look about like a lost lamb? Hadn’t Mr. Edwards, the stage coach driver, told her that this was a pony express station? That riders came in fast and hard?

      Mrs. Frontz stood and picked up the coffeepot. “Don’t you worry none about that. I’m sure the Harris men will take care of everything.” For a moment she stared at Leah, the coffeepot extended away from her body, a questioning look in her eyes. Jake saw Leah’s shoulders stiffen almost as if she dreaded giving the answers Mrs. Frontz required. She barely hid her surprise when Mrs. Frontz turned to the kitchen, calling back over her shoulder, “Boys, gather up the lady’s bags and carry them up to one of the guest rooms.”

      Jake and Will pushed back their chairs to do as they were told.

      Leah’s soft voice stopped them. “I can take them.” She set the little girl down and was on her feet in an instant.

      “Oh, no, you won’t.” Mrs. Frontz set a bowl of steaming stew on the table and took Leah’s arm. “You are going to sit right here and warm up while I feed you both. Then we’ll send you off to your beds.”

      Jake hid his smile as he watched Leah do as she was told. Agnes Frontz was a hardworking woman who always got her way. She cooked and cleaned up after the riders and expected them to obey her every word.

      She wasn’t hard on them, but she did like to mother them. It looked as if Leah Hollister was about to receive the same treatment.

      Jake picked up two of the bags he’d brought in earlier. The first time he’d seen the cases, with Mrs. Hollister standing in the middle of them, it had scared ten years off his life. He’d called to her that the rider was coming, and for a split second Jake had thought she was deaf or something. She’d stood as still as a statue before her sense had kicked in and she’d grabbed up the child and raced for the cabin.

      Her soft voice stopped him at the foot of the stairs. “Mr. Bridges?” He heard a catch in her throat.

      Jake turned. “Yes?”

      Her words came out in a rush. “I’d like to speak with you alone.”

      His head shot up and a light eyebrow cocked upward. She returned his gaze, a determined glint in the eyes that stared unblinkingly back at him. Her hand gently stroked the little girl’s hair.

      “I’m not sure alone is a very good idea,” Mrs. Frontz announced.

      Jake nodded and handed the bags to Will, who juggled them but continued up the stairs. He looked to the older woman. Jake knew Mrs. Frontz meant well, but from the determined look on Mrs. Hollister’s face, Jake felt he needed to hear her out. “We’ll be over by the fireplace, Mrs. Frontz. If you don’t mind taking care of the child for a moment, I’m interested in Miss Hollister’s business with me.” He walked toward the big overstuffed chair that sat beside the fireplace.

      Mrs. Hollister looked to Mrs. Frontz, who simply shrugged her approval. Leah placed her napkin on the table. “Thank you for watching Molly. I promise this won’t take long.”

      Jake leaned against the rocks of the fireplace and waited. He couldn’t help but be curious. What could she possibly want to talk to him about? They were strangers.

      Her soft skirts swished across the wood floors. Leah Hollister was a beautiful woman. She held herself with regal grace as she approached him but her sea-blue eyes betrayed the unease she felt. She was probably the most eye-catching woman he’d ever seen. How long would she be staying?

      For a moment he allowed himself to imagine what marrying a woman like her would be like. He pushed the thought away. Jake had no business thinking about women, period. He’d decided a long time ago to keep his distance from them. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the fairer sex, but he’d learned from past experience that they couldn’t be trusted.

      Today should have been his wedding anniversary. Instead his brother, John, was celebrating his own marriage. Five years ago, his brother and Jake’s fiancée, Sally, had ripped his heart out. The betrayal had been almost more than he could bear. An hour before they were to meet at the church for Sally and Jake’s wedding, Sally had arrived at the Bridges’ farm. She had stood with her head down, not looking him in the eyes, while his older brother wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and confessed that they’d married that morning in the wee hours of dawn.

      Hurt by his brother’s betrayal and the loss of Sally’s love, Jake had taken the bag he’d packed for his honeymoon and left. Since his parents had already moved on to be with the Lord, he knew John and Sally would take over the small farm. There was no place for him there any longer. He’d not looked back, except once a year to reflect on the pain his heart had endured and to vow never to allow another woman into it again.

      Maybe he was a fool, but Jake had taken the time to write his brother and tell him where he’d landed over the years. Jake had asked that they not write back unless he was truly needed and John had abided by his request.

      Jake had determined in his heart that he’d never fall in love again. It hurt too much when the one you loved betrayed you.

      Once she was seated, Leah spoke, pulling him from his sad thoughts. “Please, Mr. Bridges, sit down. I really don’t want to crane my neck to speak to you.”

      She seemed to have the upper hand in the conversation, so Jake did as she asked. He sat down on the footstool with his back turned away from the dining table where Mrs. Frontz and Molly waited. He could hear the older woman speaking to the child. Jake turned his attention to Leah. “All right, I’m sitting. What is it you have to say to me?”

      Leah dug into the pocket of her dress and pulled out an envelope. He watched her swallow as she looked down at the cream-colored paper. “I think it would be best if I just give this to you. Then you can ask me any questions you’d like.”

      He nodded his agreement and took the packet. Dread filled him as he turned it over. To: Jake Bridges. From: СКАЧАТЬ